Jerry Grossi's passion for flying off a jump was born almost the day he was.
He fashioned jumps for his BMX bike as a child and was a diving champion in high school. At 13 he began skiing moguls, doing tricks off two different jumps.
But he didn't know what would consume his young adult life until he was 16 years old. He'd won the right to compete in the Junior National Championships in a small mountain town far from his Illinois home.
"It was in Park City," he said, "the first time I saw aerials."
He watched from the ground as a man named Matt Chojnacki, who would go on to be the 1998 U.S. Inverted Aerials Champion, did a double back flip.
"I was in awe," said Grossi, who now lives in Park City and is ranked 10th in the world in the sport he began competitively at 19. "I couldn't believe it . . . I've always loved jumping things."
Grossi will jump today for some of $35,000 in prize money as the Utah Olympic Park hosts the Sprint Ultimate Airwave at 4 p.m.
Grossi's best season ended prematurely when he broke his femur in February while riding his motocross bike in Tooele. He missed the World Cup Finals and the National Championships, as well as two other competitions. He didn't start practicing on skis again until June 6.
"I sat on the couch for about a month and a half," said Grossi who had never broken a bone before the injury. "It was miserable, the worst thing for me because I'm so hyper."
He lost another month on skis when his foot got infected where doctors removed a screw in early July. Doctors said he couldn't ride his motorcycle or get in the water, but Grossi found a way to catch air anyway.
"I bandaged it up real good and skateboarded while I was laid up," said the skier whose friends call him "Diesel."
Grossi will get the chance to test his rehabilitation today in his first competition since he broke his leg. He earned the last qualifying spot in the men's competition. He will also compete in synchronized jumping with Brian Currutt and will also be part of the show that follows.
"As far as we're concerned it's more important than winning a World Cup because of the money," Grossi joked. "No, we keep it fun. We're all super good friends. It's as competitive as you can get without being competitive."
The contest and show will include the world's top-ranked skiers and fellow Park City residents in Eric Bergoust, currently ranked No. 1 in the world, who finished first in the qualifying round of competition Friday, and Joe Pack, currently second in the world, who finished fifth in the qualifying round.
Grossi will also be facing that first person he saw jumping in Matt Chojnacki, who finished third in the qualifying round, and former Olympian Britt Swartley who missed the entire season due to an injury last fall. Tracy Evans, Brenda Petzold, Kate Reed and Jana Lindsey all qualified for Saturday's contest.
For Grossi this is a chance to have some intense practice before the U.S. Ski Team heads to Australia for their first World Cup competition this season (Sept. 8 and 9). And Grossi's goals include having an even better season so he has a shot at winning an Olympic gold medal in the town where he first fell in love with aerials.
"It will be fun to be back on the horse," he said. "One of my favorite things to do is compete."
E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com